• The bizarre behavior of this snake when approached makes identification easy.
• They initially hiss and spread their neck like a cobra’s hood, then go through the throes of death, roll over and play dead, letting their tongue hang out.
• When turned upright they immediately roll back over.
• Their coloration is variable with yellow, brown, gray, orange or red on a dark splotch patterned back, however some individuals are an un-patterned ebony black or dark grey.
• The snout is upturned with a keel above, like a twin-bladed snow plow.
• The underside of the tail is lighter than the dark mottled belly.
• Scales keeled.

Photo of Eastern Hog-nosed Snake courtesy of John White